Automatic gauge valve



Feb. 21, 1950 E. M. GREER ET AL 2,498,366

AUTOMATIC GAUGE VALVE Filed Jan. 10, 1946 INVENTORS EDWARD M. GREER DONALD A. STARK AT RNEY Patented Feb. 21,.- 1950 AUTOMATIC GAUGE VALVE K Edward M. Greer, Hempstead Township, Nassau County, N. Y., and Donald A. Stark, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Greer Hydraulics Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application January 10, 1946, Serial No. 640,238

3 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus and a system for safely dispensing fluids at a hydrostatic pressure lower than the pressure to which the fluid supply may rise.

More particularly, this invention relates to a combined reducing valve and accumulator for use with gases, liquids and semi-liquid substances, such as greases and the like.

In fluid storage and dispensing devices, the fluid supply from a pump may rise to a relatively high pressure. For reasons familiar to those skilled in the art it is desirable that a distributing line be protected from a high pressure, or that the gauge a be protected from strong pulsations of fluids or gases to be stored under a relativelyhighpressure. On the other hand, it is frequently quite essential that a dispensing device deliver the stored fluid to the ultimate point of use at a pressure which will never exceed a predetermined and relatively low value. Furthermore, it is often desirable that the fluid be dispensed at a substantially uniform pressure, notwithstanding that the pressure of the fluid in the main reservoir or dispensing line may vary in pressure from a relatively high value down to a relatively low value.

Apparatus of the character just described frequently takes the form of a low pressure storage chamber or accumulator, to which the fluid is admitted via a pressure regulator and from which the fluid is withdrawn when and as needed.

In apparatus of this type, generally the main regulating valve, which controls the admission of a fluid from a high pressure conduit to another conduit at a low pressure, is actuated to an open position by a piston moved with a spring and to a closed position by the high pressure fluid entering the valve, the admission of such moving high pressurefluid being governed or controlled by the resilient means whose position is affected by the pressure existing on the fluid pressure side of the'regulating valve.

It is an obiect of this invention to provide an accurate and sensitive safety device devoid of needle valves and di phragms and which is peculiarly suited to bot open and close according to the fluid pressure prevailing in the supply line.

In the present invention there is a device in One object of this invention is to provide a combined reducing valve and accumulator which is relatively simple in construction, low in cost, and free from trouble.

Another object of this inventionis to provide a reducing safety valve which will protect an approximately constant reduced pressure system from pulsations of higher pressure that may be detrimental to the apparatus in such system.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a fluid pressure reducing valve in which there is provided a positive seal to take up shock waves in the fluid supplied which may be produced by the sudden opening or closing of a valve in either system. a

Another purpose of this invention is to provide a safety pressure regulator and storage device which the fluid is dispensed and kept within sufflciently close limits to satisfy the requirements for any particular use. Such apparatus is applicable to hydraulic testing equipment,toanesthetic dispensing apparatus, to dispensing lubricating oils and greases, and especially to be associated with any use wherein a gauge is to be protected from excessive pressures.

including means for maintaining a relatively constant pressure in the delivered fluid, even when the consumption of such fluid is intermittent or cyclic in character, and in which the supply may also be intermittent.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide a combination pressure reducing valve and accumulator in which the pressure of the fluid delivered therefrom will drop from the optimum value only relatively slowly, even after the pressure of the fluid supply to the device has been closed.

Other and further purposes and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed specification and by reference to the hereunto appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates one embodiment of this invention, showing the reducing valve in longitudinal cross-section.

Fig. 2 illustrates a modified form of the valve plunger. 7

In the drawing a fluid supply line H) is connected to a T-coupling H. To another opening of this T-coupling is connected a gauge l2, indicating the pressure of the main fluid supply, the useof such gauge being desirable, but not necessary. To the last opening of the coupling is connected a reducing valve 9, comprising a main body portion I3, provided with a lateral passageway ll extending completely therethrough. At the upper end of passageway 14 is another T- coupling l5, serving to supply fluid at the reduced pressure to gauge l6, and to outlet line H. At the lower end of passageway I4 is an accumulator it. This accumulator is preferably of the type in which the interior portion of the accumulator, not occupied at any given instant by the stored fluid, is fllled by an elastic bladder It. or other similar device, such bladder being fllled with any suitable gas, such as air. via a fllling opening 20, which opening is controlled by an air valve 2|, after they bladder has been filled to the desired pressure. Such type of accumulator is well known in'the art and is especially desirable, although not essential, when dealing with semi-fluid materials, such as greases.

Coupling feeds the incoming high pressure fluid to a chamber 22. At the inward end of this 'chamber there is located a piston 23. A valve member 24 is firmly afflxed to the piston 23 at the end of piston 23 toward chamber 22. Valve 24 seats by means of a seal 25, when it is displaced toward the left. When displaced toward the right the supply fluid passes through hollow or cutaway portions 25 and 21, so as to pass by the valve seal 25 and its seat 30, and on through a bore 28, which is of greater radius than the external periphery of the portion 23, and the fluid thus passes into passageway M. The fluid is then passedinto I the accumulator l8 as well as to the gauge l6 and into the outlet line I1.

The piston 23 extends to the left of passageway into a spring chamber 29. A fluidtight seal 3| is positioned around the periphery of the piston 23 to prevent fluid leakage into the spring chamber 23. However, any leakage of fluid into chamber 29 may be bled through a relatively small aperture 32 in a spring retaining member 33. To afford a communication between chamber 29 and the exterior of the body portion l3, an aperture 31 is provided in the end. fitting 35. The left end of piston 23 is formed with a rounded bearing point 35. Resting against the projecting piston 23 is the spring retaining member 33, of a radius equal to the bore of chamber 29. Within the spring retaining member 33 is a helical spring 34. The rear or left end of spring 34 rests against a threadably secured and fltting 35, secured to the body l3. Lateral movement of element 33 to the left is brought about via piston 23 and valve 24 when the fluid pressure acts upon the valve face, such movement serving .to compress spring 34.

The operation of this device is as follows: Spring 34 is arranged to exert upon valve 24 a pressure to not only open the valve 24, but to retain it open against the hydrostatic pressure exerted upon the face of valve 24 by the supply pressure fluid, until that pressure reaches a predetermined maximum setting on the gauge i6, upon which element 33 will be moved to compress the spring 34 and the hydrostatic pressure will close the seal 25 against the valve seat 30. When the fluid pressure in supply line l3, indicated by gauge l2, falls below a predetermined maximum value allowable in line H, the reduced pressure of this fluid on valve face 24,

which communicates via passageway 32 to the supply line Ill, will cause the spring 34 that has been compressed to overcome the hydrostatic pressure on the face of valve 24. Accordingly, the expansion of spring 34 acts via piston 23 to push valve 24 to the right and thus open, allowing the reduced fluid supply pressure to be again charged into the bore i4 and its component connections.

The closure of the valve is again effected when the pressure in the supply line III has built up to a value sufllcient to compress spring 34, within member 33. Movement of member 33 toward the left causes valve 24 to move in the same direction, owing to the higher pressure fluid acting upon the face of valve 24. This movement causes the valve seal 25 to seat on the valve face 33,

so that no more high pressure fluid enters bore l4.

A pressure wave or surge therein, will immediately communicate with element 23. which protects by means of valve 24 the gauge |6,only to open when the surge pressure has become equalized. The reason that this invention protects such apparatus, is that the pressure wave must pass via the relatively sensitive valve 24 into a bore l4 that is also connected to a storage device l8. The result is that the effect of the pressure wave is substantially completely eliminated by the time such wave reaches gauge l5 and line H.

While this device has been illustrated with an accumulator ID, the bladder IQ of which will serve to maintain the desired pressure in the line II for a relatively great period of time, without the injection therein of fluid from the supply pressure side of the system, it is possible in some instances to dispense with accumulator I3, when the fluid supply line pressure is cyclic or, in other words, when the fluid supply pressure continually rises and falls to provide intermittent periods of supply fluid through the reducing valve 3.

Reference is now made to Fig. 2 where valve plunger 23, constituting the piston of the device, is shown provided with an ancillary fluid passageway, by-passing the main valve when the latter is closed. Such by-passing takes place only under certain conditions of relative fluid pressure at different portions of the system.

In Fig. 2, a relatively small bore duct 53 extends from the surface of plunger 23 which is opened to the incoming fluid. Duct 5|] is terminated at the other extremity by a larger bore fluid passageway 5|, the opening between elements 50 and 5| being sealed, under certain conditions, by a ball-like valve member 52. Passageway 5| is extended longitudinally through the body of plunger 23 until it reaches a point in this plunger opposite passageway l4. At this point, passageway 5| changes its direction through an angle of approximately then proceeding transversely through the body of plunger 23, until it reaches a point upon the surface of this plunger which is open to the fluid within passageway l4.

The operation of the modified valve plunger or piston shown in Fig. 2 is as follows:

When the fluid pressure of the supply has reached the point where the plunger 23 is seated in the main valve seat so that fluid cannot pass therethrough from the main supply system into the accumulator system, the passage of fluid between the main supply and the accumulator system may take place via the ancillary duct system just described, this latter passage of fluid being terminated by the relative pressures exerted upon the respective surfaces of ball-like element 52, which are presented to the fluid within duct 53 and to the-fluid within passageway 5|. If the fluid pressure in duct 50 is sufllcient to cause a longitudinal movement of valve element 52 so that the aperture between duct 50 and passageway 5| is unsealed, fluid will then pass via elements 50 and 5| in the accumulator system. When the pressure in the accumulator system has risen so as to exert upon element 52 a sumcient pressure to force it into the mouth of duct 50, fluid transmission between the high and low pressure systems will be terminated. As fluid is withdrawn from the accumulator or lowaseaaee pressure side of the system, the diminished pressure upon valve element 52 will again allow lateral movement of this valve element, thus causin the unsealing of valve it and the re-establishment of fluid flow into the accumulator system. I

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that the modified valve of Fig. 2 will allow the accumulator system to be recharged from the high pressure system, even though this latter'system contains fluid under a pressure sufliciently great to close the main plunger valve. This ability to obtain a fluid charge under conditions just the reverse of those permitting a fluid charge via the main valve, combined with the automatic prevention of pressure in the accumulator system in excess of a predetermined amount, constitutes one advantage of the modified form of this invention shown in Fig. 2.

While we have shown one preferred embodiment of our invention in the drawing, it will be understood that various modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and it is not intended to limit the invention to this particular form.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve for supplying a low pressure system from a system carrying fluid under varying higher pressures. including a passageway connecting said two systems, a plunger valve movable to control the opening in said eway, spring means urging said plunger valve to an open position allowing fluid to flow throughsaid passageway, and piston means for urging said plunger valve to a closed position in said eway, said piston including an ancillary fluid passageway extending through the body of said plunger valve between said two pressure systems, and valve means closing said ancillary passageway when the fluid pressmeinsaidlowpressuresystemincreasestoa predetermined value. whereby said low pressure system can be charged from said variable pressure system when the pressure in said latter system is above a minimum value with respect to the pressure in said low pressure system.

2. A valve according to claim 1, in which said plunger valve has two surfaces of differing areas exposed respectively to said stems, and means to open and close said valve with the differential between the respective pressures of said systems, means to close said ancillary passageway to retain the charge in said low pressure system when said differential is reduced to a predetermined minimum value, and means to open said ancillary passageway when said differential exceeds said minimum value to allow said low pressure system to be charged.

3. A valve according to claim 1, additionally including a fluid accumulator at all times actively connected to said low pressure system, whereby the pressure in said latter system is held substantially constant for a limited time, notwithstanding withdrawal of fluid therefrom.

EDWARD M. GREER. DONALD a STARK.

summons crrsm The following references areof record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 237,624 Boule Rh. 8, 1881 342,801 Maines June 1, 1886 965,052 wainwrilht July 19, 1910 1,196,193 West Aug. 29, 1916 2,390,320 Overbeke Dec. 4, 1945 roman PATENTS Number Country Date 19,85! Great Britain Nov. 4, 1892 

